Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? (35 page)
Read Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? Online
Authors: R. E. Sherman
Buddha’s entire approach to spirituality intentionally deferred (or avoided) theological issues. He did this to put the focus on what he believed was the highest priority—finding a humanistic way to bring an end to suffering. He explained this in a parable, which Huston Smith summarized as follows:
It is as if a man had been wounded by an arrow thickly smeared with poison, and his friends and kinsmen were to get a surgeon to heal him, and he were to say, I will not have this arrow pulled out until I know by what man I was wounded, whether he is of
the warrior caste, or a Brahmin, or of the agricultural, or the lowest caste. . . . Similarly, it is not on the view that the world is eternal, that it is finite, that body and soul are distinct, or that the Buddha exists after death that a religious life depends. . . . I have not spoken to these views because they do not conduce to absence of passion, tranquility, and Nirvana. And what have I explained? Suffering have I explained, the cause of suffering, the destruction of suffering, and the path that leads to the destruction of suffering have I explained. For this is useful.
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In other words, the main problem confronting each individual is that life entails suffering, and the main goal is to follow Buddha’s teachings (about meditation, renunciation, and so on) in order to eliminate it from one’s life. The solution is not a matter of what one believes about doctrine, but what one can do to become detached from the suffering. This perspective contrasts sharply with that of Jesus, who warned his followers not to be surprised if they were persecuted for their faith, but to see it as a good thing that would yield great rewards in their lives in heaven. The main thing was to believe in him, and suffering for one’s beliefs was to be expected and even desired:
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Major Contrast #2: Journey of the Soul | |
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Buddhism | Christianity |
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Buddha assumed repeated reincarnation and many past lives, during some of which one may have been some kind of animal. Each person is the product of good and bad karma from their various past lives. This leaves very little room to exercise free will. It is very difficult to work off negative karma, which can haunt a person into many future lives. Attaining enlightenment is the only way out of endless cycles of life and death. | Jesus proclaimed resurrection to eternal life (in heaven or hell) after one life on earth. Each individual lives as a unique person either in the presence of God or fully separated from him. There is no prior life and no burden of bad karma from it. Each person was created by God in his image with the free will to choose his or her own direction. |
| Anyone can have all the bad karma of past actions completely forgiven by God by admitting past sins, desiring to repent, and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Though the individual is then spiritually freed, he or she may still have to face the natural consequences of past misdeeds.) |
Each of the above differences originates from predecessor religions. The influences of Hinduism on Buddhism are far reaching, as are the influences of Judaism on Christianity.
Buddha’s own birth records provide a vivid example of his belief in reincarnation: “According to these records,” wrote an authority on Eastern religions, “Buddha has gone through numerous transmigrations; that is, he was 83 times ascetic, 43 times Deva (a divine being), 18 times ape, 6 times elephant, 1 time thief, 1 time frog, 1 time snipe (a bird), 58 times king, 24 times Brahman, 10 times deer, 10 times lion, 1 time gambler and 1 time hare.”
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Major Contrast #3: Accessibility to Liberation | |
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Buddhism | Christianity |
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Liberation (enlightenment) can only be attained through many years (or lifetimes) of focused effort. Only a very small number of people have ever attained it. Making progress spiritually is very slow. Liberation is not available to those who cannot or will not meditate intensively for very long periods of time. | Liberation (salvation) can be rapid and radical. It is quickly available to everyone, regardless of their level of intelligence or self-discipline. |
While one can adopt basic Buddhist beliefs and practices quickly, this does not result in liberation (enlightenment). Progress toward
liberation requires many years, if not many lifetimes, of consistent, intense meditation and moral discipline. Only an elite few are capable of this. Even fewer have lived the kind of morally pure lives (both in this life and in all past lives) necessary to set them free from the persistent drag of negative karma. So, for all practical purposes, Buddhism is a path most people are incapable of following to completion, making it extremely narrow. For example, those with attention deficit disorder (ADD) have absolutely no hope of liberation. The stark reality is that, in the world as Buddhism perceives it, the vast majority of people will spend an endless number of lifetimes reincarnating back into a suffering world.
In contrast, liberation through Christ is universally accessible, and attaining liberation (salvation) as a result of a commitment based on faith often is very quick. The thief on the cross next to Jesus received salvation instantly after his confession of faith.
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Because it emphasizes faith, rather than works and discipline, Christianity has ready appeal to people of ordinary or even lower levels of intelligence. It may even be hard for highly disciplined self-achievers to accept it because they are susceptible to believing that their superior efforts should be rewarded specifically.
While the Buddhist who attains liberation is only ushered into a state of peace and nothingness after death, the true Christian gains immediate access to a personal, interactive relationship with a loving, compassionate Jesus in this life and an eternity with him and other believers in heaven.